Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T05:08:31.879Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Free radical accumulation and lipid peroxidation in testas of rapidly aged soybean seeds: a light-promoted process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Mumtaz M. Khan ,
George A. F. Hendry ,
Neil M. Atherton  and
Christina W. Vertucci-Walters
Mumtaz M. Khan
Affiliation:
NERC Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
George A. F. Hendry*
Affiliation:
Ross Science, Old Schoolhouse, Balnacra, By Strathcarron, Ross-shire IV54 8YU, UK
Neil M. Atherton
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, The University, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Christina W. Vertucci-Walters
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS National Seed Storage Laboratory, 1111 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, CO 80521-4500, USA
*
*Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The role of free radical-induced damage as a cause of loss of vigour in seeds is by no means resolved. In this contribution, the effects of environmental treatments known to reduce viability rapidly were compared with the effects of long-term, low-temperature storage on germination, hypocotyl growth and free radical accumulation and lipid peroxidation in soybean seeds. Accelerated aging was achieved by incubating seeds at 35°C and 1% relative humidity over H2SO4 for up to 69 days in the light and in darkness. In contrast, seeds under long-term storage were maintained at 5°C and 6% moisture content in darkness for up to 6 years. At 35°C there were rapid and significant reductions in rates of seed germination and hypocotyl extension. Loss of viability and declining vigour were associated with increases in lipid peroxidation and free radical build-up but the latter, surprisingly, was largely confined to the testa rather than the cotyledon. Exposure to light greatly enhanced lipid peroxidation and increased organic free radical accumulation in the translucent testas of seeds, but not in the cotyledons. Similar responses to light were recorded in testas detached from seeds. These results show that in soybean the testa is a significant locus of free radical degenerative events induced by high temperature combined with low moisture.

Keywords

Free radicalsGlycine maxlipid peroxidationoxidative stressseed viabilitytesta
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 101 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bailly, C., Benamar, A., Corbineau, F. and Côme, D. (1996) Changes in malondialdehyde content and in superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase activities in sunflower seeds as related to deterioration during accelerated aging. Physiologia Plantarum 97, 104–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bewley, J.D. (1986) Membrane changes in seeds as related to germination and perturbations resulting from deterioration in storage. pp 27–45 in McDonald, M.B. Jr., Nelson, C.J. (Eds) Physiology of seed deterioration. Madison, WI, Crop Science Society of America.Google Scholar
Harrington, J.F. (1973) Biochemical basis of seed longevity. Seed Science and Technology 1, 453–461.Google Scholar
Heath, R.L. and Packer, L. (1986) Photo-peroxidation in isolated chloroplasts. Kinetics and stoichiometry of fatty acid peroxidation. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 125, 189–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hendry, G.A.F. (1993) Oxygen, free radical processes and seed longevity. Seed Science Research 3, 273–279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hendry, G.A.F. and Thorpe, P.C. (1993) Organic reserves. pp 196–199 in Hendry, G.A.F., Grime, J.P (Eds) Methods in comparative plant ecology. London, Chapman & Hall.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hendry, G.A.F., Finch-Savage, W.E., Thorpe, P.C., Atherton, N.M., Buckland, S.M., Nilsson, K.A. and Seel, W.E. (1992) Free radical processes and loss of seed viability during desiccation in the recalcitrant species Quercus robur L. New Phytologist 122, 273–279.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hendry, G.A.F., Thorpe, P.C. and Merzlyak, M.N. (1993) Stress indicators: lipid peroxidation. pp 154–156 in Hendry, G.A.F., Grime, J. P (Eds) Methods in comparative plant ecology. London, Chapman & Hall.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leprince, O., Deltour, R., Thorpe, P.C., Atherton, N. M. and Hendry, G.A.F. (1990) The role of free radical processing system in loss of desiccation tolerance in germinating maize. New Phytologist 116, 573–580.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Osborne, D.J. (1980) Senescence in seeds. pp 1–13 in Thimann, K.V. (Ed.) Senescence in Plants. Boca Raton, CRC Press.Google Scholar
Parrish, D.J. and Leopold, A.C. (1978) On the mechanism of ageing in soybean seeds. Plant Physiology 61, 365–368.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pearce, R.S. and Abdel, Samad I.M. (1980) Changes in fatty acid content of polar lipids during ageing of seeds of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L). Journal of Experimental Botany 31, 1283–1290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Priestley, D.A. (1986) Morphological, structural and biochemical changes associated with seed aging. pp 125–195 in Priestley, D.A. (Ed.). Seed aging. New York, Comstock Publishing Associates.Google Scholar
Roberts, E.H. (1986) Quantifying seed deterioration. pp 101–123 in McDonald, M.B. Jr., Nelson, C.J.E (Eds), Physiology of seed deterioration. Madison, WI, Crop Science Society of America.Google Scholar
Senaratna, T., McKersie, B.D. and Borochov, A. (1987) Desiccation and free radical changes in plant membranes. Journal of Experimental Botany 38, 2005–2014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stewart, R.R.C. and Bewley, J.D. (1980) Lipid peroxidation associated with accelerated aging of soybean axes. Plant Physiology 65, 245–246.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sun, W.Q. and Leopold, A.C. (1995) The Maillard reaction and oxidative stress during aging of soybean seeds. Physiologia Plantarum 94, 94–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, D.O. and McDonald, M.B. (1986) The lipid peroxidation model of seed ageing. Seed Science and Technology 14, 269–300.Google Scholar